Football: Linebacker Matt Locher is back for Los Alamitos

Spring football practice at Los Alamitos marks the return of 6-foot-4, 250-pound linebacker Matt Locher, who played in only one game as a junior after tearing a ligament in his foot.

“It was a real bummer, and I can’t wait to dominate my senior year,” he said.

He was one of the top defensive players in the Sunset League as a sophomore.

He’s close to being cleared for full contact this spring.

Locher will end up playing some tailback for Los Alamitos.

“He’s a beast who can run,” defensive coordinator Barry Sher said.

Los Alamitos should have one of the best linebacking trios around with Locher, all-leaguer Blake Johnson, a top punter, and Denzal Brantley.

Los Alamitos could have four players in the NFL next season in Shaquille Richardson, Mike Patterson, Orlando Scandrick and Antoine Cason. Three of them are cornerbacks.

Correction: An earlier version of this blog had Locher as the defensive player of the year in the Sunset League as a sophomore. He was second-team all-league.